Police Investigating Seat Kicking Incident on Southwest Airlines

Police are investigating an incident where a woman allegedly assaulted a 3-year-old child who was kicking the back of her airplane seat in March.

James Holmes of the Phoenix Police Department told the Arizona Republic a mother is pressing charges against a woman who grabbed her child onboard Southwest Airlines flight 582 on March 21st around 7p.m. The plane, headed for Las Vegas from Phoenix Sky International Airport, was at the gate at the time of the incident.

According to the Republic, the mother told police her son either kicked or put his feet on the back of the woman's seat. The irritated woman allegedly turned around and warned the toddler, "You're not going to be kicking my seat all the way to Las Vegas," while shaking him. She then "slammed him back on the seat," the mother told police.

The mother and other passengers argued with the woman, who according to the mother appeared to be intoxicated. Both parties were taken off the plane to resolve the issue, where staff assured the mother the woman would not be allowed back on the flight. After the mother and her family returned to their seats, the woman did get back on the plane, and chose to sit in the same seat even though other empty seats were available.

The mother said the woman harassed the family and threw garbage at them during the flight to Las Vegas. According to the Republic, no arrests have been made because police are still gathering names of witnesses from Southwest Airlines.